Traversing India on Wheels

Of Smash and Hits

2008-05-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

For a biker, A smash and a hit would normally mean a little toughness challenge but being used to be so used and abused by these Indian roads, Its all now in the mind. You can face it all, is how I live on these roads. With the weather playing foul this early on this time of the year, it becomes a pain. It rained all night and the trees and roads are all awry, out of shape and full of strange shapes. I was late for work and rushing to work was the usual deal. Being it even more important for me since I had to rush to the appointment, I was behind this car doing a good 80 and it just moved to its left to avoid this piece of table trunk and its branches leaving me out right in the face of these branches. I sure was about a good 80+ and it landed me on my bum leaving me sore ankles and scratched knuckle with a big rash from the road on my left side thigh. Possibly one of the fastest and weirdest kind of smash.. I have ever had. Though the bike went about 50mtrs away at this speed and me holding on to my position, was just safe in my head. I landed in a well planned manner. It just happened again in my life.

Yours hunted
FreeBirD

Ducati Is here in India.

2008-05-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Made in Italy, the Italians are here with the name that rocks the world with their two wheels technology. Ducati, the world champions from the year 2007 and the current year underway are already making the waves worldwide. But since the very beginning of the year 2008, all the motor industry counted it as a year when all the major experts will see making their presence felt in India. So Ducati, not losing back in the run when likes of orange (KTM) and green (Kawasaki) are already here with a brand to market themselves with the growing upsurge of young and rich Indian economy.

New Delhi, May 7, 2008 : Ducati at the press launch of their entry to India

At the base of the International Mission “To be the leader in premium motorbikes conceiving true icons of passion and Italian style thanks to distinctive features and superior performance proven on the racetracks all over the world” were the words marked by the Gabriele Del Torchio, CEO, Ducati. He announced the official Launch of the Ducati making their presence felt in India with a strong dealership base and a head start to a new venture. He expressed that for Ducati, calling them a customer is not suggestible since they belong to the culture embedded by company from the past as each owner of this motorcycle gets to be the part of family which is called Ducatisti, the official community of Ducati bikers around the world.

India is finally no more behind when it comes to the world of superbikes, the only next thing that we need is an official track to contest the availability of these wonderful marvels of human mankind. You need to wait before you can finally reach the adrenalin kicking in your nerves. The price tag for this Italian engineering will be higher than the usual Japanese competitors with a starting price of 15L to 50L. The display on the launch was another beautiful thriller with Italian color Superbike 1098, a yellow 1098, Superbike 848, Monster, and hypermotard.

Indian Food...

2008-04-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Channa Chaawal (Beans n Rice)

Cooked by mom... welcome to the dinner..
Join me..

Recipe Next !!

Preparing for A Ride..

2008-04-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Scorching heat with 40C its hard to beat the heat. Its worth a ride to add to the miles which have been already done and I m preparing myself for the ultimate challenge. This time its not my own wish but I bound with the limitations for no breaks and no stops.

The stretch has not been done by me before but I m sure its one of the best roads to crack the record of all the times clocked by many people on the stretch. Being safe is the another concern, I am to keep the adrenalin flowing once I m on the saddle till the end once I get down from it. The secret behind the real ride lies behind the curtains till its accomplished and achieved. My best rides have lasted upto 31hrs /24 hrs / 23hrs and still the body and the bike align to the rhyme of ride.

The details follows soon, keep checking the space for more. Heres how it shall fall...
Coming back soon with details...

Test Time Trial - Best !! 250kms in 3hrs18mins Flat Out !!

2008-04-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

With a small plan ... and in rain we started first 200kms in rain .. it was a pure pain with only my boots getting half a bucket water in them rest all dry & after that the friends bike calling it quits it was a long day Hunger, finally with 11hrs empty stomach eating pizza's and coke in Chandigarh.. Ken, da !! Excuse you.. but I will remember the pizza's Aaj ke baad pizza chandigarh hi khaane chalenge but aapki Superbike pe not on this desi bike... On the way back, holding on to the nerves I kept myself in rhythm ride ... 100 ...110 ..120..125 waah.. the bike does magic and i touch the best time of my life. MY Fastest time .. 250kms - 3hrs 18mins. - 5th Apr 2008 - Karizma - Av. speed - 78.6km/hr - top speed - 126km/hr
Damn... what will happen if i get a bigger bike... i will nuke the planes on the land Why demand a time machine when you can get better options, ask me
Thank You Vivek Sir for keeping that faith and getting the bike over to me. Anyday ZMA has the best power, regardless you call it less powered as compared to the P220, but Deees is da bike ...

I Feel....

2008-01-01T23:38:00.000-08:00

The Times just pass by and the year after another, the time just moves out of your life.
I start to realize how important it is to be at a place where others can look up to you and say yes you have moved along well with time. If you don't they just are at the same place looking into yourself with so many questions with no answers. Doubting myself of my presence.

Time ... seconds... minutes.. hours... weeks... months... years.... decades.. It makes it count as a life.
All this life, I just was a spectator, an Actor, a brother but above all a traveler. I made this life look bigger and happier with the things I did. I traveled places, I met people and I heard the stories which most of the people have not heard of. The journey never stops like a life, you carry on and you realize thats what you did. Atleast you dont want to die in those 5 miles of your birthplace. Definitely not something I would want.

Being Free is my power, meeting life is my gift and making others go through it makes me feel alive. I love my existence.... want to join me, ask me ... lets live it large.

Travellers... who are they....

2007-07-24T23:34:00.001-07:00

Travellers, one of the species of the humans who have an urge and desire to explore than just being a visitor in a closed tour of planned itineary.

Do I belong to one of those existing kinds, ok...

heres a little bit about me for people who dont know me.

My name is "Mani Babbar", age 25, Proffession - IT

Passions : Travelling on two wheels and photography - the unbreakable connection.

loves going places where few go, travelling where others never think of.There was a kick start to my passion since I was 19 and it has been on and on since then..started with a scooter on a trip that led me to explore my strengths ... making it big at 22 with a bike, that was 150cc Hero Honda CBZ, with mere 12.8bhp to begin with.. but till date has never disappointed me in past 7years. Its been a never ending affair.

It was only then I realised, that my bike is not a commuter affair in this country full of bikers but it will be a unique one.. I took it to the real test of the challenging world - Indian himalayas.It was a small start at 22 when I took my first solo long ride to ladakh and changed my outlook with my own experiences.

The world is not enough said my bike, she needed a rider at that time .. a hardcore. And I took it along and gave it what she demanded. the next year ride was the ultimate one with again heading to leh but this time in record ride of 23hr 46m 6s covering 980kms from the terrains where there were no roads to the smooth flowing roads and then the baby never gave up.

It has been a life to live to the max, and I made the most of it without letting me feel, I am skipping on something in life. It took me to a new high with my photography combined DSLR to add to my life and the skills never stopped rather kept on getting sharp and sharp with time... I was still to come to the challenge and I decided to share it here with the experience adding on with each of the travel i do. Hopefully one day I will be able to pursue what I think, I can do better and make myself grow with it as well.